After the royal hunt, everyone returned to the palace. King Solomon summoned the generals and the other military officers of Kingdom Averion. Crown Prince Cassian and Chancellor Igrin joined them in the Command Hall.
anwhile, General Alaric left behind, escorting Eve to Stormholt Manor. His Knight Commander, Caleb, attended the strategic eting with the other generals on his behalf.
Upon arriving at Stormholt Manor, Alaric brought Eve to their chamber imdiately. He held her hand tightly as he pulled her inside.
"Marie, don’t let anyone disturb us," Alaric said to the female servant before closing the door.
"I shall see to it, my Lord," Marie simply responded, eyeing the married couple teasingly.
anwhile, Eve looked at Alaric with puzzlent in her eyes.
"Is there sothing wrong?" She asked him.
Alaric pursed his lips, making her seat on the bed. He held her shoulders while staring straight into her eyes.
"Eve, I am aware that I only won the royal hunt because of your help. I owe you this. However, I have a favor to ask you. I want you to keep your ability. Don’t let others know about your beast-taming skills. This is for your safety."
Alaric spoke with genuine concern for his wife. He explained the reason why Eve should hide her ability.
Ambitious people would try to get her. If they failed, they would try to eliminate her. If the royal court found out, they would take advantage of Eve, making her the kingdom’s greatest weapon.
Upon hearing Alaric’s explanation, Eve bit her lower lip as she felt guilty.
"I understand. Forgive for acting recklessly during the royal hunt. I just wanted both of us to win."
Alaric could only sigh in defeat. "No need to apologize, Eve. I’m just worried about you, that’s why I’m reminding you of this."
Eve smiled, cupping his face. "Thanks, Alaric. I truly appreciate it. But I’m so glad that we won! We can bring the at of the hunted animals to the slum area."
"I also have a request from you. Can we release the foxes, wolves, deer, and other animals back into the forests? Then we can raise a few deers and rabbits here in Stormholt Manor."
Alaric didn’t think twice as he agreed. "Yes. We can do that. We can also raise so tad two foxes and two wolves that we can bring with us during our journey to Kingdom Zephyra. What do you think?"
Eve bobbed her head frantically. "Nice idea! I also want to bring so rabbits. Silvester will have new friends."
Alaric let out a husky chuckle. He could see the excitent in Eve’s eyes. She was truly happy to bring those animals with them.
"Alright. I’ll tell my knights to do as you say. We will release so of the animals later after you select the animals you want to stay with us."
Alaric gave her the freedom to choose. Furthermore, he believed that letting her be exposed to different types of animals could enhance her beast-taming skills.
"Eve... in tis of danger, you can use beast taming as your survival skill. You can be protected by the animals and beasts you can ta with your rare talent," Alaric said, preparing Eve’s mind for what might happen and what she can do in tis of danger.
"Yes, my General. I’ll keep that in mind," Eve replied playfully before leaning on his shoulder.
Alaric couldn’t help but smile. He loved this kind of interaction between him and his wife.
After a while, his smile suddenly disappeared when he recalled sothing. His expression beca serious.
"Sera and Julius ntioned what happened in the hunting ground. I’m glad you didn’t get injured. If I had known this earlier, I should have asked King Solomon to punish Princess Aliyah. She tried to hurt you." Alaric clenched his fists tightly.
Eve gently stroked his fist to console him. "Don’t dwell on it further. No need to involve my father in this matter. Though Aliyah started it, she was the one who ended up getting wounded. It’s her karma."
Alaric remained quiet, thinking hard. He couldn’t forgive those people who tried to harm Princess Eve, his wife. If only he had enough authority to punish them, he would do it.
"Why do I feel like I’m a useless husband? I’m not there whenever you are in trouble," he clenched his fists in disappointnt.
"Hey, don’t say that," she said, pressing her forefinger against his lips.
"I’ll make it up to you. I promise," he swore.
Their conversation was interrupted when Randolf’s voice was heard outside the door.
"Your Highness, My Lord, we brought the prisoners to the basent. You can see them now and interrogate them."
Alaric and Eve exchanged glances with one another. They knew that Randolf was referring to the bandits who attacked Eve and Annie in the forests. It was ti to confront them and learn about the mastermind.
"Let’s go and see them," he said, standing up while holding Eve’s hand.
Eve nodded in understanding.
Without further ado, Alaric led Eve to the secret basent of Stormholt Manor. Five n were tied down on a chair– the leader, the man with a scar, the fat bald man, the slender man, and the tallest man. They were heavily wounded.
Randolf and the other knights were so rough during their mission of capturing the bandits. They beat the bandits up until their hatred was satisfied. They were furious because those n tried to kill Princess Eve.
Alaric was surprised upon seeing their faces. They looked familiar to him.
’Wait... I’ve seen them before,’ Alaric thought, his eyes glinted in recognition. Yes! He had seen them.
"They are the sa people who attacked one year ago... during our wedding night," Alaric blurted out.
Eve instinctively glanced at him when she heard that. "They are the sa people... those who attacked both of us?" She mumbled in disbelief.
"Does it an Gavin is also the mastermind who hired these n to assassinate in the forest?" she added, feeling surprised. She couldn’t believe that Gavin could be this cunning. How could he do that?
"No wonder, he tried to help during my flogging punishnt. He planned it. Everything!" Eve hated Gavin more.
"We will find out, Princess. Do you want to stay outside first while I interrogate them?" Alaric consulted her. He didn’t want Eve to see his harsh thod of interrogating the enemy.
If they would refuse to say anything then he had to torture them until he got the answer he needed from them.
"No. I want to stay here and watch," Eve insisted.
"This might beco bloody. I don’t want you to witness how they will suffer in my hands. You might hate . And you might not be able to handle it." Alaric expressed his concern truthfully.
But Eve shook her head defiantly. She would not leave Alaric’s side. She needed to hear the truth. Who wanted her dead?
"Please, trust . I can handle this. I’m no longer the weak-hearted princess," she reassured him.
"Okay. Stay by my side. Just tell if you can’t handle it, then I’ll ask Randolf to send you out." Alaric gently reminded her.
His gentle expression beca stone-cold the mont he shifted his gaze back to the bandits.
"It’s been a year since the last ti I encountered your group. I guess you changed careers from being assassins one year ago, the five of you beca bandits. You attacked once. How foolish are you to co back and target my wife? You are all courting death." He sneered mockingly while looking daggers at them.
’Damn it. This commoner general has recognized us!’ The leader of the group thought to himself.
The bandits kept their mouths shut. But deep inside, they started to be afraid of Alaric’s dominating presence.
"You killed an innocent woman. Who among you shot Annie?" Eve butted in as she could no longer hold her emotions.
The four n reflexively glanced at their leader. They were not supposed to answer her query, but their eye movents had already betrayed them.
"So, It’s him," Alaric mumbled, his lips curling up into a sly smile.
Alaric didn’t hesitate as he grabbed the dagger, stabbing the leader’s thigh– deep and hard. He even twisted the dagger while pushing it deeper into his flesh. He repeated the sa action to the other thigh.
A loud scream echoed in the basent.
"Aaah!!"
"I’ll ask you. Who hired you? Who is the person behind you? Answer or else, you will die here from losing too much blood." Alaric threatened the leader.
"I’ll cut your limbs little by little until you are ready to confess," he added, smiling devilishly.
Eve kept her composure as she watched Alaric intently. Though she pitied the man, she couldn’t be rciful because this man was the one who killed Annie.
"Stop! Stop! I’ll confess!" The leader gave in instantly. It was painful to be stabbed over and over again. Furthermore, Alaric and Eve were both emanating a frightening aura.
"It was Princess Thalia of Kingdom Eldara who hired us!"
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